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Date: 20 February 2025
Time: 20:12
Colonoscopy procedures for people with diabetes
Morning appointment (Moviprep®)
If you answer "yes" to either of the following questions, contact the diabetic specialist nurses (DSNs) immediately for further advice – you may need to be admitted in preparation for your colonoscopy.
Diabetic nurse specialists: 0121 371 4523 or 0121 471 4535
- Have you recently needed admission to hospital because of your diabetes?
No – continue
Yes – contact DSN for advice - Do you have problems with hypos (low blood glucose levels)?
No – continue
Yes – contact DSN for advice
Eat as normal until 13:00 the day before the test. After this you should start a liquid diet.
Liquid diet can include the following clear fluids:
- Black tea or coffee (no milk)
- Water
Fruit squashes (not fresh fruit juices) - Clear carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks
- Soda/tonic water, Lucozade, lemonade
- Stock cubes (Oxo, Bovril, Marmite)
- Clear soups
- Jelly
At 14:00 prepare sachets A & B of Moviprep® in one litre of water (or mix with squash) and drink one glassful every 15 minutes until the jug is empty (make sure toilet facilities are nearby once Moviprep® has started).
Continue on a liquid diet (as above) overnight.
At 18:00 prepare sachets B & C of Moviprep® in one litre of water/squash and drink, as before.
If you take tablets for diabetes
- Take tablets as normal on the morning of the day before the procedure
- Omit all diabetes tablets after these morning doses and only restart diabetes tablets at lunchtime after the test
If you are taking insulin for diabetes
Four injections per day (short-acting with meals & long-acting pre-bed)
On the day prior to the colonoscopy:
- take normal short-acting insulin at breakfast
at lunch take ½ (half normal short-acting insulin dose)
pre-bed take ½ (half usual long-acting insulin dose - You should check your home glucose values every four hours
- On the morning of the test omit insulin until after procedure
- You should have been given the (first) early appointment on the list. (If you do not have an early morning appointment – please contact the relevant unit so that your appointment can be altered)
- After the procedure take ½ (half) normal short-acting insulin with a snack and return to normal insulin doses from lunchtime onwards
Two injections per day (twice daily pre-mixed insulin)
- On the day prior to the colonoscopy take ½ (half) normal insulin doses at breakfast
- You should check your home glucose values every four hours
- On the day of the procedure omit morning insulin dose
- After the test have half normal morning insulin dose with snack/early lunch
- Have normal evening insulin dose with evening meal
One injection per day (long-acting insulin pre-bed) +/- tablets during the day
- On the day prior to the colonoscopy:
take tablets as normal at breakfast
omit all diabetes tablets after these morning doses and only restart at lunchtime after the procedure
Pre-bed take ½ (half) usual long-acting insulin dose - You should check your home glucose values every four hours
- After the procedure have a snack and return to normal tablets from lunchtime onwards and normal insulin dose pre-bed
You should contact the Diabetes Specialist Nurse on 0121 371 4523 or 0121 471 4535 if you have any questions or concerns prior to the procedure.
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